Head Games

The Panthers had a fun day in Coral Springs today, predictable after Saturday's weak showing and Sunday's off day.

After a long practice -- one JM promises with become a regularity if performances like Saturday become the norm -- the team met in the upstairs meeting room with their sports psychologist (officially known as the team's "mental skills coach").

Dr. David Scott is an associate professor at the University of New Brunswick (team nickname: The Stew), and he visits the team every so often. Today's theme was getting rid of the bad vibes, if you believe you're a winner you are, don't dwell on the negative, etc.

My take: The Panthers are good enough, smart enough, and, dog gonit, people like them.

-- Little bit of news out of practice today. Stephen Weiss is fine after taking a hit to the head in Thursday's loss to the Bruins. Weiss did everything in practice today, and will go Wednesday against the Sens.

Anthony Stewart sent back to Rochester.

-- Jassen Cullimore had an MRI done, but the extent of his knee injury isn't known. He didn't have a good look on his face when he came to Incredible Ice today holding his films.

Look for Martin Lojek to make an appearence sometime soon.

-- Congrats to Roberto Luongo, not only the NHL's top star for last week, but one of three stars of the month.

-- Thanks to all
those checking this space every once in a while. Moved up the Herald blog
rankings this month, now in fourth among sports pages (trailing Manny's very
good Miami blog, Greg Cote's Gold Standard blog and the Izzy's Heat page).

Hope you all enjoy
the page, and keep coming back, ya hear!

-- Speaking of fun,
watching Red Dawn on AMC right now. One of the great cheesy 80s flicks you
sometimes stumble upon after morning practices. Wolverines!

-- Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League
announced that Panthers prospects Shawn Matthias and Keaton Ellerby have been invited to Canada’s National
Junior Selection Camp from December 10-14, 2007 in Calgary. Team Canada opens World Juniors on Dec. 26.